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xbloodwhipx

Registered: 02/24/12
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Keeping fish
#23866361 - 11/25/16 03:32 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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I never keep fish, but today I ended up keeping like 5 largemouth bass, all around a pound. This isnt something I do often, but im wondering how much of a difference it makes to the bass population. Obviously there are 5 less bass in that lake now, but will it have any dramatic effect eventually if someone were to keep their limit every week or two?
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OakTree
Schmoak Tree

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How big was the pond and how many people fish in it? if it is a small pond (less than 1 acre) and several people keep their limit each week, and several people handle the bass disrespectfully even when they don't keep them (i.e. throwing them on the dirt, ripping the hook out of their mouth without any precision or regard for the fish's health, keeping them out of the water for several minutes for pictures, etc.) then you will notice a difference in population after the next spawning season.
But if it's a big enough lake with not too much fishing pressure and no one keeps the fat ones in the spring (you'll know them because they are abnormally fat; those are the pregnant females and can lay 1,000s of eggs which are potential future bass) then it shouldn't be a problem to eat a few every couple of weeks or so.
Is the pond/lake private, or do people fish there a lot? And how big is it (approximately)? And what is the temperature range throughout the year (the only reason I ask is that in the southern states bass populations don't thin out as much in the winter as they do in northern states).
Sorry for all the questions; this topic depends on a lot of variables haha. Happy fishing!
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L_iggins
Slight Sell-Out



Registered: 11/20/16
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Re: Keeping fish [Re: OakTree]
#23866586 - 11/25/16 04:33 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Small mouth bass are an invasive species so if anything that will make a difference in the trout population because there won't be bass scaring/eating the trout. Not sure if they'll eat an actual trout but I have seen them eating trout eggs!
-------------------- L Dog 
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xbloodwhipx

Registered: 02/24/12
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Re: Keeping fish [Re: OakTree]
#23866797 - 11/25/16 05:42 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
OakTree said: How big was the pond and how many people fish in it? if it is a small pond (less than 1 acre) and several people keep their limit each week, and several people handle the bass disrespectfully even when they don't keep them (i.e. throwing them on the dirt, ripping the hook out of their mouth without any precision or regard for the fish's health, keeping them out of the water for several minutes for pictures, etc.) then you will notice a difference in population after the next spawning season.
But if it's a big enough lake with not too much fishing pressure and no one keeps the fat ones in the spring (you'll know them because they are abnormally fat; those are the pregnant females and can lay 1,000s of eggs which are potential future bass) then it shouldn't be a problem to eat a few every couple of weeks or so.
Is the pond/lake private, or do people fish there a lot? And how big is it (approximately)? And what is the temperature range throughout the year (the only reason I ask is that in the southern states bass populations don't thin out as much in the winter as they do in northern states).
Sorry for all the questions; this topic depends on a lot of variables haha. Happy fishing!
Two different ponds, one is over 1 acre (about 2 and a half) and the other is under. Im not too sure on the temp, but im in the southeast.
Its public, I fish there most weekends and every now and again someone else or several other people are fishing, so I'd say it gets moderate pressure. I never see anyone keeping fish (other than one guy keeping crappie one time)
The place is loaded with bass though. There are tons of tiny tiny bass and 1-2 pounders, and a good amount of 4-5 pounders (someone caught a 10 out of there) in the bigger lake.
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OakTree
Schmoak Tree

Registered: 10/31/16
Posts: 509
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Last seen: 7 months, 23 days
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Quote:
xbloodwhipx said:
Quote:
OakTree said: How big was the pond and how many people fish in it? if it is a small pond (less than 1 acre) and several people keep their limit each week, and several people handle the bass disrespectfully even when they don't keep them (i.e. throwing them on the dirt, ripping the hook out of their mouth without any precision or regard for the fish's health, keeping them out of the water for several minutes for pictures, etc.) then you will notice a difference in population after the next spawning season.
But if it's a big enough lake with not too much fishing pressure and no one keeps the fat ones in the spring (you'll know them because they are abnormally fat; those are the pregnant females and can lay 1,000s of eggs which are potential future bass) then it shouldn't be a problem to eat a few every couple of weeks or so.
Is the pond/lake private, or do people fish there a lot? And how big is it (approximately)? And what is the temperature range throughout the year (the only reason I ask is that in the southern states bass populations don't thin out as much in the winter as they do in northern states).
Sorry for all the questions; this topic depends on a lot of variables haha. Happy fishing!
Two different ponds, one is over 1 acre (about 2 and a half) and the other is under. Im not too sure on the temp, but im in the southeast.
Its public, I fish there most weekends and every now and again someone else or several other people are fishing, so I'd say it gets moderate pressure. I never see anyone keeping fish (other than one guy keeping crappie one time)
The place is loaded with bass though. There are tons of tiny tiny bass and 1-2 pounders, and a good amount of 4-5 pounders (someone caught a 10 out of there) in the bigger lake.
Cool. Given this information I'd say you're good to go. Public ponds and lakes are usually monitored by the local DNR chapter anyway, so have fun!
10 pounds, DAMN! I caught one bass when I was 11 that I have a picture of. I didn't have a scale, but judging by the size of it compared to the size of me in the picture (and I'm not holding it toward the camera to make it look bigger as most bass in magazines are lol), I'd say it's around 10, give or take a pound. I've caught hundreds of largemouth in my life and nothing compares to that bad boy. It was like an entirely different species.
Cheers man; glad to see you're looking out for the well being of your local freshwater ecosystem. It makes me sad when I go to local lakes and see trash lapping against the shore and people catching fish and literally throwing them back in the lake or stepping on them to get the hook out, which causes them to die in a week or so.
PM me anytime you want to talk about largemouth. I've been largemouth fishing longer than I've been riding a bike and I still love it!
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xbloodwhipx

Registered: 02/24/12
Posts: 12,791
Last seen: 4 years, 5 months
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Re: Keeping fish [Re: OakTree]
#23867119 - 11/25/16 07:32 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
OakTree said:
Quote:
xbloodwhipx said:
Quote:
OakTree said: How big was the pond and how many people fish in it? if it is a small pond (less than 1 acre) and several people keep their limit each week, and several people handle the bass disrespectfully even when they don't keep them (i.e. throwing them on the dirt, ripping the hook out of their mouth without any precision or regard for the fish's health, keeping them out of the water for several minutes for pictures, etc.) then you will notice a difference in population after the next spawning season.
But if it's a big enough lake with not too much fishing pressure and no one keeps the fat ones in the spring (you'll know them because they are abnormally fat; those are the pregnant females and can lay 1,000s of eggs which are potential future bass) then it shouldn't be a problem to eat a few every couple of weeks or so.
Is the pond/lake private, or do people fish there a lot? And how big is it (approximately)? And what is the temperature range throughout the year (the only reason I ask is that in the southern states bass populations don't thin out as much in the winter as they do in northern states).
Sorry for all the questions; this topic depends on a lot of variables haha. Happy fishing!
Two different ponds, one is over 1 acre (about 2 and a half) and the other is under. Im not too sure on the temp, but im in the southeast.
Its public, I fish there most weekends and every now and again someone else or several other people are fishing, so I'd say it gets moderate pressure. I never see anyone keeping fish (other than one guy keeping crappie one time)
The place is loaded with bass though. There are tons of tiny tiny bass and 1-2 pounders, and a good amount of 4-5 pounders (someone caught a 10 out of there) in the bigger lake.
Cool. Given this information I'd say you're good to go. Public ponds and lakes are usually monitored by the local DNR chapter anyway, so have fun!
10 pounds, DAMN! I caught one bass when I was 11 that I have a picture of. I didn't have a scale, but judging by the size of it compared to the size of me in the picture (and I'm not holding it toward the camera to make it look bigger as most bass in magazines are lol), I'd say it's around 10, give or take a pound. I've caught hundreds of largemouth in my life and nothing compares to that bad boy. It was like an entirely different species.
Cheers man; glad to see you're looking out for the well being of your local freshwater ecosystem. It makes me sad when I go to local lakes and see trash lapping against the shore and people catching fish and literally throwing them back in the lake or stepping on them to get the hook out, which causes them to die in a week or so.
PM me anytime you want to talk about largemouth. I've been largemouth fishing longer than I've been riding a bike and I still love it!
Thanks a lot for the response 
Yeah man when praticing catch and release some people just completely miss the point... I mean whats the point if you are going to treat the fish like shit and release it in horrible condition.
I actually probably wont keep the fish more than once a month or so, If that. I feel really bad for taking those 5 I've been praticing catch and release for LMB so long it just doesnt feel right... (that was the first time ive kept bass, i occasionally take my limit on crappie and gills though).
Yeah, I could hardly believe someone caught a 10 pounder in there till i saw the pic. the things eyes were as big as some of this bass ive caught haha
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5150
phantom

Registered: 09/01/06
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Okeechobie in fl has 20 lb,s ers
-------------------- "the way of the warrior is the resolute acceptance of death" Miyamoto Musashi
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OakTree
Schmoak Tree

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Re: Keeping fish [Re: 5150]
#23884432 - 12/01/16 12:51 PM (7 years, 1 month ago) |
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Yea Okeechobee is the gold mine, along with Castaic Lake in California. Castaic has something like 4 of the top 10 biggest largemouth bass ever caught. That shit is crazy.
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Space Coast Slayer
Total Fucking Noob

Registered: 09/19/16
Posts: 158
Loc: I come from the water.
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Re: Keeping fish [Re: OakTree]
#23915907 - 12/11/16 10:31 AM (7 years, 1 month ago) |
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Okeechobee is good but the stick marsh is better
-------------------- Everything I post is pure fiction and all images were stolen from google.
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OakTree
Schmoak Tree

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Just did some reading on the stick marsh. Can't believe I've never heard of it before. I may have to make a weekend out of it this spring. Only a few hours away from me. Thanks Will Ferrell!
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ballsalsa
Universally Loathed and Reviled



Registered: 03/11/15
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Re: Keeping fish [Re: OakTree]
#23917062 - 12/11/16 05:16 PM (7 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
OakTree said: Yea Okeechobee is the gold mine, along with Castaic Lake in California. Castaic has something like 4 of the top 10 biggest largemouth bass ever caught. That shit is crazy.
I've fished Castaic for my entire life. There are some huge fish in there still, but overall, it isn't terribly productive. Sometimes in the summer you can catch big Pacu out of lower castaic though because aquarists toss them in there when they get too big for their tanks.
--------------------
Like cannabis topics? Read my cannabis blog here
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Space Coast Slayer
Total Fucking Noob

Registered: 09/19/16
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Re: Keeping fish [Re: OakTree]
#23918116 - 12/11/16 10:15 PM (7 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
OakTree said: Just did some reading on the stick marsh. Can't believe I've never heard of it before. I may have to make a weekend out of it this spring. Only a few hours away from me. Thanks Will Ferrell!
I mostly saltwater fish but anytime I get that low sodium urge it's hard to beat stick marsh.. As long as you can deal with gators the size of your kayak lol..
-------------------- Everything I post is pure fiction and all images were stolen from google.
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spaceyvibess
Stranger
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its actually good to keep some of the smaller fish from smaller ponds. If they over populate they wont get much bigger than a pound or 2 because there competing for limited resources.
-------------------- and if you ask him how he sings his blues so well, he says " I got a soul that I wont sell"
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OakTree
Schmoak Tree

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Quote:
.. As long as you can deal with gators the size of your kayak lol..
...Then we shall do battle.
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